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ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｄａｗｎ　ｏｆ　ａｎ　ｏｌｄ　ｄａｙ[hr][/center][/color]

As much as she wanted to keep holding onto Sherry, Estelle was forced away unceremoniously as she rolled across the dining room.

To chase her down or to let her be? Estelle thought about it. All that time ago, Estelle would have carelessly chased after Sherry or let her be without much thought. But she was thinking about how to best treat her. And Estelle believed that she could work through it on her own--at least, for now. Being an older sister was more difficult than she remembered. Though, perhaps she hadn't fully grasped it so long ago.

Though her thoughts were interrupted by the appearance of Amabilia. She sure was passionate, wasn't she?

Long ago, a healthy Estelle would have tried to placate her aunt. After the incident, Estelle would have shrank back in apathetic silence. But Estelle couldn't help but have an air-headed smile and soft laugh. It was like this so long ago, wasn't it? It all seemed so insignificant now.

[color=b8ffd2]"Will you be joining us for breakfast, Lady Amabilia?"[/color] Estelle asked once her soft laughter subsided.

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The trip to the orientation was nostalgic.

No longer in the wheelchair, she instead moved with a simple cane. Of course, she wasn't nimble and still needed assistance--one morning of preparation was not nearly enough to regain proper movement--but appearances were important this day. So much so that she had spent most of the carriage ride massaging her own legs as if to force them back to a functional state.

Her own position in the academy was complicated. She was previously part of the noble class based on merit. Apparently, not any longer--two years of leave alongside words of her health had decayed her position. When her name was said for the common class, hushed whispers filled the crowd--be they from surprise of her name being called, remembrance of the incident, or the prospect of someone like her being sorted into the common class once more. Though, Estelle didn't quite care. She had one year remaining.

And besides that, she already knew of [i]someone[/i] who could be a better teacher than anyone at the academy.

Then came the challenges. Estelle remembered them quite vividly. After all, she had been challenged to quite a few--archers in the noble class were thought of as easy pickings by anyone with a shield.

Seeing the young Vincent Kaides raise his hand all but confirmed what she had been thinking ever since she saw Sherry.